Combined purse and billfold



COMBINED PURSE AND BILLFOLD.

Filed Nov. 14, 1949 2' Sheets-Sheet 1 l 1 I l l I INVENT OR Mann [Ifltmnns BY if-M ATTORNEYS Nov. 21,1950

Filed Nov. 14, 1949 w. H. s12: THOMAS 2,531,306

COMBINED PURSE AND BILLFOLD 2 Sh eets-Sh'et 2 INVENTOR Mama H ,j'r 747mm:

BY M -M ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 21, 1950 COMBINED PURSE AND BILLFOLDWilliam H. St. Thomas, Gloversville, N. Y., al-

signor to St. Thomas Inc., a corporation of New York ApplicationNovember 14, 1949, Serial No. 126,976

3 Claims.

This invention relates to pocketbooks and has more particular referenceto an improved type of combination purse and billfold.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a combined purse andbillfold of novel construction having an improved type of change pocketarranged for ready access within a billfold pocket or compartment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined purse andbillfold, as characterized above, wherein a coin pocket and a billpocket are accessible at one end of the billfold through a two-parthinged frame to afford ready access to the contents of both pockets whenthe frame members are opened.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in thespecification when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view showing one form of combined purse andbillfold embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the lin 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the combined purse and billfold shown inFig. 1, with the mouths of the coin pocket and bill pocket opened;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 3, showing a slightlymodified form of coin pocket; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

The illustrated forms of the present invention embody certainimprovements over the combination purse and billfold disclosed andclaimed in my co-pending application, Ser. No. 766,590,.filed August 6,1947, now U. S. Patent No. 2,488,444, issued November 15, 1949. Theprincipal changes in construction reside in the constructions of theframe mouth and the coin pocket. Both inventions relate to what isgenerally known as a French purse having provision for inserting moneybills laterally into the bill compartment and removing them endwisethrough a mouth of the purse, while the coin pocket is arranged in themouth end of the billfold. In accordance with the present invention, thepurse and bilifold is provided with a single mouth closure formed by apair of hinged frames, and the construction is such that both the coinpocket and the end of the bill pocket are readily accessible when thehinged frame members are opened.

Referring to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, thecombined purse and billfold is illustrated as comprising a generallyrectangular outer wall forming member it, which is preferably made ofleather, and an inner substantially coextensive wall forming member II,which is conveniently made of a strip of fabric or cloth and stitchedalong its side edges and at its bottom end to the wall forming member I0, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. These walls provide an elongatedbill compartment or pocket I! of such length as to accommodate moneybills inserted therein. The upper ends of the two wall forming membersIll and II are secured to the cross bars and legs of a pair of hingedframe members l3 and [4, respectively, to provide a mouth opening in theupper end of the bill pocket. The frame members J3 and H are shown asbeing U-shaped and adapted to be held in closed position by cooperatingsnap elements l5 and 16.

In this example, the inner face of the outer billfold wall member I0 islined with a cloth or fabric liner ll. While this liner may beco-extensive with the wall member l0 and stitched at its lower end toboth of the wall members It and II, it is shown in Fig. 2, asterminating short of the hinge axis of the frame members. It is stitchedalong its side edges to the side edges of the wall members l0 and II. Asshown, the liner covers 'a greater portion of the back wall of the billpocket or compartment. In some instances, the cloth liner may beomitted. However, it enhances the appearance of the billfold and servesto confine the coin purse therein, as will presently be explained.

In this example, the fabric inner wall member II is provided with agenerally rectangular facing l8 adjacent to one side edge, which isstitched to one side edge and the lower end edge of the wall members Itand H, and fastened to one leg and a portion of the cross bar of theframe member ll, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. This facing and the fabricwall are provided with a cut out opening l9 extending from a point nearthe lower end of the wall member II to a point near the cross bar of theframe member II to provide lateral access to the billfold pocket andpermit insertion and removal of money bills. In this 'example, theopening is adapted to be closed by an ordinary slide fastener 20.

A second billfold compartment or pocket may be provided on the innerface or wall member of the billfold. It is shown as being formed by asubstantially rectangular wall forming member 2|, preferably made ofleather and having its upper longitudinal edge below the slide fasteneropening l9, as viewed in Fig. 1. It is secured at its lower end alongits side edge to the lower end and side edges of the wall members It andII, and at its upper end portion to one leg and a major portion of thecross bar of the frame member II. This wall member, when made ofleather, serves to cover the fabric portion of the wall forming memberII, which is not covered by the leather facing l8. If desired, the wallforming member 2| may also carry a card pocket formed by a short wallforming member 22, as clearly extensive in width with the wall member 2|and stitched or otherwise secured along its sides and bottom end edge tothe wa.l I I, as shown in Fig. 1.

The billfold is adapted to be folded transversely, as indicated in Figs.1 and 2, and may be fastened in its folded position by snap fastenerelements 23 and 24.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the purse orcoin pocket is of the gusset type and is arranged in the upper end ofthe bill compartment or pocket, with its mouth opening adjacent to thecross bar of the frame member 13. The purse is formed by an outer wallforming member 25 and an inner wall forming member 26, stitched togetherat their bottom edges and connected along their side edges by generallytriangular gussets 21, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

These walls and gussets are preferably made of leather. The bottom ofthe pocket extends well below the hinge axis of the frame members l3 andI4 and the upper edge of the inner side wall 26 terminates short of thecross bar of the frame member [3. To improve the appearance of the coinpocket, it is preferably covered with cloth on the outer faces of theinner wall 26 and the gussets. The upper edge of the inner wall member28 is shown as being provided with a stifiening member 28, which may bein the form of a flexible strip stitched between the edge of the clothcover and the edge of the leather wall 26, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.The bottom end of the pocket is stitched to the upper end edge of thecloth liner II to hold it against the outer wall of the bill pocket. Thegusseted form of pocket permits the weight of coins in the pocket tobulge it open at the mouth when the frame members are opened. Also, theframe members serve to close the mouth tightly when they are snappedclosed, to prevent coins from spilling out of the coin pocket andfalling over into the bill pocket. If desired,.the mouth of the gussetedpocket can be closed by any suitable fastening means. In the presentexample, it is shown as being adapted to be closed by means of aflexible flap or tab 29 carrying a, male snap fastener element 30adapted to cooperate with a female snap fastener element 3| on the faceof the wall forming member 26.

Referring to the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the coin purse isthere shown as being i'ormed by an outer wall forming member 32 and aninner wall forming member 33, both preferably made of leather. The innerwall forming member 33 is somewhat wider than the wall forming member 32to providefullness of the pocket, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The upperedge of the wall forming member 33 terminates short of the cross bars offrame members I3 and I4. Both side edges of these two wall formingmembers are also secured to the two legs of the frame member l3 and theyare stitched together along the balance of their side edges below thehinged frame axis and at the bottom of the pocket, as clearly shown inFig. 5. In this form, the liner member I1 is separated from the outerwall member ill at its upper end and covers the inside wall .33 of thebulging coin pocket. It is secured along its edges to the side edges ofthe wall forming members l9 and II in the same manner as was describedin connection with Figs. 1, 2 and 3. However, its upper end portionwhich covers the face of the coin .pocketwall 33 is provided withfullness to conform to the size and shape of the coin pocket wall, andits upper edge is stitched to the upper edge of thewall forming m mber33. Thus,

the liner covers or conceals the bottom portion 4 of the coin purse andprovides a smooth. uninterrupted surface for the insertion of bills inthe bill compartment. The upper edge of the wall 33 may or may not bereinforced by a strip to make it bulge. This form. of purse pocketmayart, that the inner wall member ll of the bill pocket may beconnected at only one side edge and its lower end to the outer wallforming member III, to provide the lateral access opening between theunsecured side edges of the two wall forming members, in which case theslitted opening through the leather facing strip and the inner wall-willbe omitted. Also, either form of purse pocket may be formed by a single,inside wall forming member secured at its bottom edge to the outer wallforming member Ill and to the legs of the outer frame member, 'as shown,thereby omitting the separate, outer purse wall form-.

ing member.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A combination purse and billfold comprising two flexible,substantially rectangular inner and outer wall forming members connectedtogether to form an elongated bill pocket open at one end and having alongitudinal access opening at one side to provide for lateral insertionand removal of money bills; two substantially ushaped inner and outerframe members hingedly connected together with each frame member securedto the open end of the corresponding wall forming member to provide amouth closure; and a purse pocket within the open end of the bill pockethaving an inner wall with its side edges secured to the legs of theouter frame member and with an upper free edge providing a mouth openingat one side of the open end of the bill pocket, said purse pocket beingmovable as a,-

unit with said outer frame member when the frame members are opened.

2. A combination purse and billfold. as set forth in claim 1, whereinsaid inner wall of the purse pocket is generally rectangular; andwherein said purse pocket has substantially triangular gussets at itsopposite sides with the upper side edge portions of the gussets securedto the opposite legs of one of said frame members.

3. A combination purse and billfold, as set forth in claim 1, whereinthe purse pocket has an outer wall with its side edges also secured tothe legs of the outer frame member.

WILLIAM H. ST. THOMAS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in th file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Num er

